Hot Flash Relief

A daily dose of fiber-rich flaxseed may cut hot flashes in half.
Scientists at the Mayo Clinc studied 21 post-menopausal women who had at least 14 hot flashes each week.

The women sprinkled four tablespoons of crushed flaxseed into yogurt, creal, juice or water and after six weeks the severity and number of their hot flashes dropped by 50%.

Get More Sleep
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Turn off the TV three hours before bedtime to avoid restlessness at night

Advocacy

Funding for respite care at the federal level has been minimal. In 2006, Congress passed the Lifespan Respite Care Act, which provides grants to states to develop local respite care programs for caregivers desperate for a few hours break. However, Congress has failed to appropriate any money to pay for these services to the nation's 50 million family caregivers.

The law provides for states to develop community-based services to provide temporary relief to family members who care for a relative with special needs. If funding is authorized, it would provide planned and emergency respite for caregivers and train and recruit respite workers.

The Senate passed an amendment in March 2008 reserving $53 million for Lifespan Respite for the next budget year. However, it does not guarantee an appropriation for the program.

Representative Mike Ferguson (R-NJ), the lead sponsor of the House bill, said the passage “sends America's caregivers a clear message: Your selfless sacrifice is appreciated, and help is on the way." Ferguson’s father was a caregiver for his ill mother for six years.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), the lead sponsor in the Senate, said “this legislation will make a real difference in the lives of millions of Americans and I am proud that we have made this important step forward for caregivers and their families."

The next hurdle is to acquire funding so the act can become a reality. Caregivers need to let their legislators know how funding respite can save billions of dollars, including Medicaid long-term care costs by delaying more costly nursing home placements for the aging population.

The Florida Respite Coalition is urging caregivers to contact their federal representatives now to press for funding of the Lifespan Respite Care Act in the Department of Health and Human Services 2008 budget.

Face to face visits with legislators are very effective and a phone call is even easier. Addresses and phone numbers of federal and state elected officials can be found by going to www.congress.org and inputting your zip code. Or call the Capitol switchboard at 202-225-3121 or 202-224-3121 and ask for your member’s or senator’s office.